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And Mr Cook was reduced to tears as he found his daughter dressed in a wedding gown.

Chris and Mandy Cook are pictured with Hayley and Ben

Hayley and Ben, who met at the University of Lincoln, have been together for nine years and planned the whole wedding in secret to make it a joint birthday and wedding celebration.

Hayley said: “On the evening itself, the reaction was fantastic. Far better than we had ever imagined. Almost everyone in the room was crying and everyone was so genuinely happy for us - it was lovely.

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Hayley said the ‘secret wedding’ plan was hatched after the couple attended a friend’s humanist wedding.

She added: “We decided to get in touch with a local celebrant to discuss the idea of a surprise wedding.

Hayley and Ben

“It’s been a tough year of planning without telling anyone but we’ve had the chance to decide on everything together - from the venue to the rings, the vows and the wedding dress. The chance to tell people the idea was always a thrill as it was such a guarded secret from friends and family.”

Chris Cook took to his Facebook page after the wedding and wrote: “What a day ...and night especially when your daughter appears behind a closed door in a wedding dress and asks me to walk her down the aisle! Honestly didn’t have a clue.”

Chris Cook was left amazed as he opens the door to see his daughter dressed in a wedding gown

He added: “When I was stood there and the doors were closed, I thought, what the heck? Is the present so big it can’t fit through the door?